Union 393 recently honored two "Golden Members" who each marked 50 years of membership and service to Laborers' International Union of North America.

Joseph Tintorri from Peru worked for Ladd Construction his entire career. He worked on the initial building of Interstate 80 and other road construction in the late 1950s and 1960s. He worked mostly on bridge and deck crews building bridges and pouring concrete throughout the Midwest.

"This was the happiest time in my life when I was working," said Tintorri. "The concrete work was very hard and strenuous, you were always busy either carrying heavy materials or you always had a shovel, sledgehammer or jack hammer in your hands. But it was very rewarding work."

His wage when he started construction work was about $2 per hour.

William "Bill" Klinefelter from DePue also started his construction career working on the building of Interstate 80. He worked for J.P. Wetherby Construction Company of Ottawa.

Klinefelter started out pouring concrete on the road beds and bridge decks. He also worked on major gas and petroleum pipelines that crossed throughout the Midwest in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as serving as a union steward for the Laborers. He worked on the major addition to St. Margaret's Hospital in Spring Valley and also was the dynamite blasting and tunneling man on many other road construction crews.

Klinefelter served on the executive board for Laborers' Local 287 in Spring Valley for 25 years.

"I am very grateful for all of the benefits and good wages that the union provided for myself and my family over the years," said Klinefelter.

Laborers' Local Union 393 has 18 Golden Members who each have 50 years or more of membership and service to the union.